Ninja Gaiden: Not for kids!

If you plan on buying Ninja Gaiden next month, you better bring your ID to the store. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has given the Tecmo game a Mature rating for Blood and Gore and Violence--essential staples of the ninja oeuvre. Though the "M" rating could limit its potential audience, Tecmo representatives put a positive spin on the ESRB's decision. "Ninja Gaiden is a full-blooded action game from start to finish," said Tecmo marketing manager Tony Tarpey. "[It] is not for the weak at heart."

Ninja Gaiden is the first Gaiden game to appear on a next-gen console. The last, Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom, came out for the NES in 1991. The Xbox-exclusive title will feature numerous puzzles in addition to the requisite stealth and murder. GameSpot's preview has more on the Team Ninja-developed game.